What does the function of your penis tell you about your cardiovascular health? - Peter Janiszewski

More than you might think.

Since the focus of my PhD project is on the effects of exercise on erectile dysfunction in abdominally obese and sedentary men, I have been doing much reading about the condition while writing the grant for my study which was thankfully funded and is now underway.
More that anything else I have previously done research on, the topic of erectile dysfunction catches many peoples’ attention, and for the first time since starting grad school – some non-academics are actually interested to hear about my work.

The most intriguing thing about erectile dysfunction is that is appears to foreshadow future cardiovascular disease risk (i.e. heart attack), as men who seek medical attention for cardiovascular disease symptoms often report that their penis stopped working long before they had any signs of heart problems. Thus, it is now believed that the exact same disease process which leads to erectile dysfunction also leads to cardiovascular disease. Symptoms of erectile dysfunction become apparent earlier on in the disease process due to the very small size of the arteries supplying the penis in contrast to those supplying the heart – it takes longer to plug up a water hose than a drinking straw.

So there you have it: if your penis stops working today, there is an excellent chance you may have greater problems on the horizon. Thus, seek the advice of your physician, and demand that more be done that just a prescription for Viagra.